Collapsible camping or picnic cabinet



J. P. HART.

COLLAPSIBLE CAMPING 0R PICNIC CABINET- APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1 921- 1,-.437,756. Paulina Dec. 5,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. P. HART. COLLAPSIBLE CAMPING 0R PICNIC CABINET. APPLICATION FILED MA.Y23,192|.

1,437,756, Patented Dec. 5, .1922

\ 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fmnmm-mmw k J. P. HART. COLLAPSI BLE CAMPING 0R PICNIC CABINET.

APPLICATION FIL'ED MAY 23, 1921. 1,437,756. Patented Dec. 5,1922.

- 3 SHEETS- SHEETB.

INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

rear

JOHN PORTER HART, OF LOS ANG-ELES, CALIFORNIA.

COLLAPSIBLE CAMPING OR PICNIC CABINET.

Application filed May 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. HART, a citi- Zen of the United States and a resident of Los Angeles in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Camping or Picnic Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to camping or picnic cabinets of a composite character, arranged for holding camping utensils dishes, food and other appurtenances in compact form, and more particularly to a form of cabinet having collapsible sides normally forming enclosing members for the articles held within the cabinet. and adapted to be extended outwardly therefrom for the purpose of ln'oviding a lunch table.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a cabinet of the character mentioned a structure of simple design and light weight, capable of being readily carried about and easily manipulated for converting it from a container for. food and other articles to a table for use in camping or picnics, all of the parts being supported on a. common central frame and permanently attached together but held so as to be capable of easy manipulation for converting the article from one purpose to another.

My invention contemplates the use of detachable standards capable of being quickly attached to the bottom of the cabinet for supporting the same above the ground at a suitable height and readily detachable from the cabinet when not in use. Means is also provided on the bottom of the cabinet for holding the supporting standards in detached position. and in compact form, so that when the cabinet is closed and the standards are detached therefrom a compact unit will be provided. A device of this character has great utility in that it occupies a minimum amount of space and serves not only as a container for food and camping appurtenances,- but also for a table for eating purposes, when the sides thereof are extended as hereinafter described. Other objects may appear as the description progresses.

I have illustrated one practical embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet, showing the supporting standards attached thereto, and indicating means for extending 1921. Serial No. 471,973.

said standards so as to elevate the cabinet substantially above the surface of the ground to permit the use of camp stools or chairs. This view also shows a holder for the stand ards when the same are detached from the cabinet. i i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cabinet. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the same, with the sides thereof closed and the standard holder attached thereto for rendering the cabinet portable. I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cabinet showing the sides extended for use as a table.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same, showing shelves intermediate the top and bottom thereof, extended for use. I

Fig. 8 is a reverse side elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan of the cabinet, showing the means for holding the sides eX- tended for use as a table.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the standard holder, showing the standards packed therev in when not in use. I

Fig. l]; is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cabinet with standards omitted; I

As shown in the drawings, and when constructed in the preferred form, my cabinet includes a rigid frame, composed of vertical corner'members l, 1, etc, of hollow rectangular cross section, a bottom enclosing member 2, a top 3, and transverse vertical partitions 4, spaced apart and positioned inwar lly ofthe ends of the cabinet, and forming compartments 5, 5 between said partiti ons and the end of the cabinet. The upper and lower ends of the members 1; l. are flanged at 6, 6, etc, to provide means where by the bottom and the top 3 may be attached permanently to the members 1.

The interior of the cabinet includes an up- ?ier compartment 7 in which articles of food 5 may be held, a central conipartmentS in which food receptacles A. A held in position by means of clips 9. 9, etc. and aiower compartment 10, in'which a thermos bottle 11 may be held by means of the clips 9. similar to those in the compartment 8. The end compartments 5, 5, may also be arranged to carryother thermos bottles 12,12, or other articles, as may bedesired. The larger and upper compartment 7 isclosed at the sides by neans of members etc, may be upper edges of the member 13. 'l c 13, 13 which are hinged at their lower edges to the central partition 14, and are adapted to be extended outwardly into horizontal planes for forming a continuation of the partition 1-1, as shown in Fig. 7. When so extended the side members 13 are supported at each end by means of a pair of pivotally connected bars 15 and 16, the bars 16 being connected at their lower ends with the members l3, and the bars 15 being connected at their upper ends with the partitions One of the members 13 may have a pair of straps l7, 17 attached thereto formed into a plurality of loops for holding a set 01f knives 18, forks 19, and spoons 20.

One side of the lower portion of the cabinet may be provided with a permanent partition 21 which forms a losure betweencompartments 8 and 10, and said enclosing portion may have clips 22,22 and 23 for holding other spoons 20 and dishes 24, in positlon as shown in Fig. 8. The compartments 8 and 10 are separated by means of a horizontal partition 25. Buttons 26, 26 may be provided on the outer sides of the extensible sides 13 whereby said sides may be opened and closed at will, and said sides are held in closed position by means of resilient pins 2?, 2'? carried in. the top 3 of the cabinet, the lower ends of which engage the 1* top'l-l also has a handle 28 similar to that o suit case or bag, by means oi which the calnnet may be carried about.

The ends and sides of the cabinet are enclosed by means of side members 29. 29 and end members 30 and 30, which are hinged at their lower ends to the bottom 2 of the cabinet and are adapted to be held in closed position by means of the pins 27 in the top 3. Said end and side members are capable ol extension downwardly into horizontal positions, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and T, and when so extended are adapted to be supported by means of a centrally pivoted bar 31 carried on the bottom 2 of the cabinet, and adapted to be extended when positioned transversely of the cabinet, so that its ends will extend substantially outwardlyfrom the edges of the bottom, for supporting the members 29, 29. The end members 30, 30 are supported in extended position by means of longitudinally slidable bars 32, carried in straps 33, 33, etc, attached. to the bottom 2 of the cabinet.

The bars 31 and 32 as shown in Fig. 9, may be extended inwardly so as to be held. within the limits of the bottom when the side members 29 and 30 are closed. The cor-- 'ner spaces between the members 29 and 30 are filled by means of flat corner members 34-, 34, etc, of rectangular. form, and each side member 29 has a pair of members 34:

memes will told one on top oi the other on the inner surface of the member 29. l hen all of the side and corner members a extended as shown in Fig. 5, table of rectangular form is provided extending completely around the lJOL y of the cal'iinet, which extends upwardly from the surface of the table and holds the food and eating utensils, and when the sides are so extended all oi the contents of the cabinet will. be exposed and easily accessible. The meml'iers 34L oi the table when extended overlie the ends of the side members 29 ainl are therefore, supported by means oi said side members.

The bottom 2 is provided with rectangiu lar openings at the corners for receiving the upper ones 36 ofthe supporting standards The ends of said standards being insertabiy in the lower hollow ends of the members 1, and abutting limiting pins 38 which are provided in the members 1.

The standards 37 are flared outwardly and thence downwardly, so as to provide ample support for the cabinet when used as a table, and said standatls are also of rectangular tubular formation and the lower ends i0 thereoi are arranged to receive the upper ends or extension member-sail; The extension members and the ends 4.0 of the standards are provided with pertorations 42 for receiving pins 4&3 held on chainsn-l i attached to the standards 3? and by means oi which the extensions and standards may be held together for use.

As shown in Figs. 10 and ll, the standards 37 are adapted to be compactly held in a shallow rectangular box 45 adapted to be supported on the bottom 52 of the cabinet. Said standards are held in the box by means of straps 4.6, 4-6 having bucl-des 4i? thereon. The box 45' has a plurality ct spring cliis d6, d6, etc, attached to the ppubl sides thereof, and having their upper ends er;- tended above the upper edge of the box and adapted to overli the side 29 of the cabinet. when the same isclose'd and to be attached thereto by means of: pins ll? fixed to the cabinet.

The top of the cabinet N 4 1: rality of suitcase tasteners o thereon for holding the sides 2-; and in closed position.

Now. it will be understood that in the use of my device. the necessary food and eating utensils are first packed in the cabinet and the sides 29 and 30 are thereafter closed. The cabinet then may be carried about from place to place with the contents held immov- I able in the several compartments thereof,

ea /5e for holding said members in such position.

The corner members 84 attached to the side members 29 are then folded outwardly into horizontal position, so that the upper surfaces thereof will be flush with the upper surfaces of the members 29 and 30, thus forming a continuous rectangular table around the frame of the cabinet. It will be understood in this connection that the frame on which the entire apparatus is mounted includes the members 1, the bottom 2, top 3 and the inner partitions, all of the enclosing members of the device being extensible. The standards 37 are then inserted in the lower ends of the members 1 for supporting the cabinet at an elevation close to the ground, but if chairs or camp stools are used theextensions 41 are attached to the lower ends 37 and the table will be elevated sufficiently above the ground to permit the use of the chairs or stools.

The entire structure herein shown and described is of extreme simple character and the arrangement is convenient and such that all articles contained in the cabinet are readily accessible for use and they may be removed from and replaced in the'cabinet with facility and dispatch, thus obviating any great amount of effort in preparing and serving a picnic lunch.

I may modify and change the structure from the form shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame open at the sides and ends, standards adapted to be detachably connected to the bottom of said frame, extensible side and end members for closing the interior of said cabinet, and arranged so that when extended into horizontal position of the planein the bottom of the cabinet, a rectangular table completely surrounding said cabinet may be provided.

2. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame open at the sides and ends, standards adapted to be detachably-connected to the bottom of said frame, extensible side and end members for closing the interior of said cabinet, and arranged so that when extended into horizontal position of the plane in the bottom of the cabinet, a rectangular table completely surrounding said cabinet may be provided, said standards having extensions attachable thereto for elevating the cabinet to different positions above the ground.

v 3. A picnic cabinet having a frame, a cabinet formed thereon and having a flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a flat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitions therebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabi net, standards attached to the bottom of said cabinet for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member, and'extensible outwardly and downwardly into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members hingedly held on said side members and adapted to be extended therefrom for filling the spaces between said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formed and completely surrounding the body of the cabinet.

4. A picnic cabinet having a frame, a cabinet formed thereon and having a fiat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a flat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitions therebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards held on the lower side of said bottom for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing 5. A picnic cabinet having a frame, a flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a flat horizontal member forming the top thereof. and partitions therebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards detachably held on the lower side of said bottom for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member and extensible outwardly and downwardly into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members hingedly attachedto the inner portions of said side members and adapted to be extended outwardly therefrom for filling the spacesbetween said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formed and completely surrounding the body of the cabinet, and means for holding said side and end members in open and closed positions. I I

6'. A picnic cabinet having a frame composed of tubular corner members, at flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a fiat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitions therebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards detachably held in the lower ends of said corner members for supporting the structure above the ground, slde and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member and extensible into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members attached to said side members and adapted to be extended therefrom for filling the spaces between said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formed around the body of the cabinet, said cabinet having an upper food compartment, and sectional folding side enclosing members for said compartment, adapted to be extended outwardly to horizontal positions on opposite sides of said frame, for the purpose described.

7. A picnic cabinet having a flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a flat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitions therebetween form ing a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards detachably held in the lower ends of said corner members for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member and extensible into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members hingedly attached to the inner portions of said side members and adapted to be extended therefrom for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formedand completely surrounding the body of the cabinet, and a plurality of vertical and horizontal partitions extending transversely between said top and bottom members for providing compartments in said cabinet.

8. A picnic cabinet having a frame composed of tubular corner members, a flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a fiat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitionstherebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards detachably held in the lower ends of said corner members for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member and extensible into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members attached to the inner sides of and foldable on said side members and adapted to be extended therefrom for filling the spaces between said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formed and completely surrounding the body of the cabinet, a plurality of vertical and horizontal partitions extending transversely between said top and bottom members for providing compartments in said cabinet, and a pair of extensible shelve members normally disposed in vertical position integral of said side members, and adapted to be extended in horizontal positions on opposite sides of the cabinet, for the purpose described.

9. A picnic cabinet having a frame composed of tubular corner members, a flat horizontal member forming the bottom thereof, a flat horizontal member forming the top thereof, and partitions therebetween forming a plurality of compartments in the cabinet, standards detachably held in the lower ends of said corner members for supporting the structure above the ground, side and end enclosing members hingedly connected to said bottom member and extensible into the horizontal plane thereof for use as a table, and other members hingedly attached to and foldable on said side members and adapted to be extended therefrom for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members, and providing a rectangular table symmetrically formed and completely surrounding the body of the cabinet, aplurality of vertical and horizontal partitions extending transversely between said top and bottom members for providing compartments in said cabinet, and a pair of extensible shelve members normally disposed in vertical position integral of said side members, and adapted to be extended in horizontal positions on opposite sides of the cabinet, and means for holding said shelve members in open and closed positions.

10. A picnic cabinet having a frame of rectangular formation, side and end enclosing members hinged at the bottom of said cabinet and capable of extension into the same horizontal planes for forming a rectang'ular table in the plane in the bottom of said cabinet, and completely surrounding said frame, and a box detachably held on the bottom of said cabinet and below the level of said table, for the purpose described.

11. A cabinet of the character described, including a rigid frame having spaced top and bottom members and a plurality of compartments formed therebetween and open at the sides and ends, side and end enclosing members hinged to the edges of said bottom member for closing said compartments, and extensible into horizontal position substantially flush with the upper surface of said bottom member,.said side members having sections foldable outwardly therefrom, means for holding said members in extended position for use, a compartment formed below the bottom of said cabinet and a plurality of supporting standards carried in said compartment and adapted tobe attached to the bottom of said cabinet for holding the same in position for use.

12. A cabinet of the character described, including a rigid frame having spaced top and bottom members and a plurality of compartments formed therebetween and open at the sides and ends, side and end enclosing members hinged to the edges of said bottom member for closing said compartments, and extensible into horizontal position substantially flush with the upper surface of said bottom member, means for holding said members in extended position for use, a box detachably held on the bottom of said cabinet, and a plurality of supporting standards carried in said box and adapted to be attached to the bottom of said cabinet for holding the same in position for use, said standards including extension members adapted to be attached to the lower ends thereof for supporting the cabinet at different elevations above the ground.

18. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame having hinged side and end members foldable downwardly into the same horizontal plane, said side members having leaves foldable thereon and extensible therefrom into and for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members for providing a rectangular table around said cabinet.

14:. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame having hinged side and end members foldable downwardly into the same horizontal plane, said side members having leaves foldable thereon and extensible therefrom into and for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members for providing a rectangular table around said cabinet, and a sub-structure for supporting said cabinet and table above the surface of the ground.

15. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame having hinged side and end members foldable downwardly into the same horizontal plane, said side members having leaves foldable thereon and extensible therefrom into and for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members for providing a rectangular table around said cabinet, and means for supporting the several members of said table when extended in operative position.

16. A picnic cabinet including a rigid frame having hinged side and end members foldable downwardly into the same horizontal plane, said side members having leaves foldable thereon and extensible therefrom into and for filling the corner spaces between said side and end members for providing a rectangular table around said cabinet, means around said frame, and extensible means carried on said frame for supporting the members of said table inoperative position.

JOHN PORTER HART.

WVitnesses: I

J. W. SEEELEY, RoB'r. H. FoLsoM. 

